Cinderella in review at Milton Keynes Theatre: Gok and Brian are a dream team
Every Cinderella has a fairy godmother. Every Cinderella except for the one in Milton Keynes, that is; our hard done-by lass has her very own Fairy Gokmother to help magic her away from scrubbing floors and into the Prince's arms.
Milton Keynes Theatre’s 2017 panto is a stellar one, with Gok Wan wand-waving and Brian Conley in the familiar role of Buttons.
Show producers wanted someone capable of bringing ‘belly laughs’ and Brian is that man.
The key to such a classy delivery lies in the attention to detail, and nothing has been overlooked.
There are two lines of communication as standard – one for the adults and one for the youngsters. A smattering of double-entendre here, and wonderfully cheeky moments there.
Brian’s infectious, unfussy fun is worth the ticket-price alone.
Cinderella is desperate to go to the ball, but the Ugly Sisters, aka Tess and Claudia, have other ideas for their step-sister, and make her rip up her invitation.
It’s down to the Fairy Gokmother to transform our downtrodden lovely (played superbly by Lauren Hall) with a Gok Fashion Fix; and Cinders becomes Princess Starlight for the night.
Gok is a wonderfully warm character and plays a blinder throughout.
Together, Gok and Brian really are a dream team.
Best bits? The non-stop humour, the superb special effects, and hearing the theatre alive with laughter, with all ages making the noise. That’s the real magic of panto.